Building structure



Feb. 25, 1969 w, s 3,429,087

BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 9, 1966 FIGS.

- INVENTOR Bobby W. Phillips ATTORNEYS United States Patent f 3 Claims This invention relates to building construction. More particularly, it refers to the interengagement of walls, the term walls being used herein in a broad sense intended to encompass the enclosing surfaces of rooms, such as ceilings, floors, walls, column faces and so forth. Thus, the invention pertains to the structure or mode of association of one wall with an adjacent wall, or of a wall with the ceiling of a room or of a wall with the floor of a room, or of a wall with a column face.

The corner or joint formed by the joining of one Wall with another has been a source of problems in the construction industry. Take, for example, the case of two abutting upright plastered walls meeting at right angles. Each wall conventionally includes internal structure such as beams or joists. They may in turn support lath upon which the plaster is hung. At the point of abutment, the plastered surfaces meet and blend into one another to form a smooth joint or cornerat least when when the plaster is initially installed. But, as is often the case, one of the two walls may settle while the other one settles to a lesser extent or not at all. As a consequence, cracks open up along the joint. The cracks may be fairly well confined to the corner. Or, if the settling is quite uneven the cracks may extend a considerable distance from the joint along the surfaces of the walls. The formation of such cracks is unsightly, can have substantial effects upon the value of a building, if extensive, and largely offsets the care exerted by the plasterer in forming a smooth joint. This rather familiar problem has existed for years. Despite the great technological progress that is manifest in other arts, the construction trade has yet to uncover and universally adopt a successful solution. Inspection of buildings only a year or two old will, in many cases, disclose unsightly cracks generated by the differential (uneven) settling of abutting walls. Thus, there has been a long-standing need for improvements in building construction which would substantially eliminate the foregoing problem.

The principal object of this invention is to fulfill the foregoing need. Another object is to provide a novel form of wall construction for terminating a partition. Still another object is to provide a form of construction in which a first wall and a second wall with which the first one abuts are snugly and attractively joined in a substantially fixed relationship with one another in such a manner as to be capable of a limited amount of sliding movement in respect to one another for accommodating differential settling without generating strains and cracks in one wall by the movement of the other. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a combination of walls or partitions and joining means, including flange means forming or covering at least a portion of the surface of one of said walls adjacent the joint between the walls for supporting said surface and for facilitating the formation thereof. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon careful consideration of the description of the invention which follows.

A wall and joint structure constructed in accordance with the invention has a first wall, including a first supporting structure on which is hung a first finishing layer. The finishing layer has a generally planar first exposed wall surface, and a first marginal edge. With the aid of a partition terminator means that will now be de- 3,429,087 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 ICC scribed, said first wall engages a second wall that is generally perpendicular to the first.

The manner of engagement of the walls is such that there is no substantial bonding between them. By substantial amount is meant an amount of bonding that will transmit from one Wall to the other suificient force to crack the other. Instead of bonding, there is a snugfitting, slideable relationship which permits small, localized movements of one or both walls relative to the other. Thus, the partition terminator actually tends to prevent bonding by physically separating the walls and may in fact provide a bearing surface against which the edges of the finishing layers on the Walls abut and, to a limited extent, slide. At the same time, it should be understood that both walls are part of a building structure and are held thereby in a substantially fixed relationship by elements of the building structure other than the edges of the two walls now under discussion.

The partition terminator is a zig-zag shaped unitary assembly having two flange means joined by a midportion and generally extends along the entire length of the joint between the walls. The mid-portion generally has first and second faces, first and second generally parallel longitudinal edges along the sides of the faces and ends which may be cut off perpendicular to the edges, or at an angle thereto or with a serrated or rounded shape. The exact shape of the ends is not a characterizing feature cf the invention. The mid-portion is of substantially the same width as the thickness of the first finishing layer, and is substantially thinner in crosssection than said width. The mid-portion is also of substantially greater over-all length than width. The first marginal edge of the first finishing layer is adjacent the first face of the mid-portion, preferably abutting the first face.

The first flange means is united to the mid-portion along the first marginal edge generally perpendicular to the first face. This flange extends away from the first marginal edge along the exposed surface of said first finishing layer. The over-all length of the first flange means is substantially equal to that of the mid-portion. Its width is sufficient to give substantial support to the marginal edge of the first finishing layer and it is generally held in firm contact therewith. The width of the first flange means may be varied as desired, but it will not normally be more than about 6 times the width of the mid-portion. The first flange means is substantially thinner than both its own width and the thickness of the first finishing layer.

Like the first flange means, the second flange means is united to the mid-portionbut along the second longitudinal edge and generally perpendicular to the second face thereof. Disposed in the opposite direction from said first flange means, the second flange means extends along the first structural supporting means away from the first finishing layer. The over-all lengths of the mid-portion and second flange means are substantially the same. The second flange means is firmly affixed or anchored to said first structural supporting means and therefore must be sufficient width for this purpose. The width may be varied as desired and may be made as large as is convenient, bearing in mind that the wider the flange the greater the cost of the device. Like the first flange means, the second flange means is of substantially less thickness than its own width and the thickness of the first finishing layer.

The second wall includes a second structural supporting means. On it is hung a second finishing layer having a generally planar second exposed wall surface that is generally perpendicular to the first. Instead of engaging the first wall, the second exposed wall surface engages the second face of the mid-portion of the partition terminator in snug-fitting, slideable face-to-face relationship. It is to be understood that the slideable aspect of the engagement of the wall surface and the partition terminator comes into play only as there are differential settling, expansion, contraction and other small movements of the finishing layers and supporting means with respect to one another. Except for such movements, the first and second walls are held in substantially fixed relationship by the remainder of the building structure.

As in the case of the first wall, the second finishing layer is provided with a second marginal edge. The latter will ordinarily be positioned adjacent the second flange means and may in some cases abut against it Without any substantial bonding of the one to the other. For such purpose, it is preferred that the width of the second flange means be at least as great as the thickness of the second finishing layer.

The invention may be better understood by considering certain preferred embodiments which are disclosed hereinafter and in the accompanying drawings by way of example and not limitation. In the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged portion of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged portion of FIGURE 3.

The first preferred embodiment to be described herein is an illustration of the joinder of a partition to a column in accordance with the invention. In FIGURE 1, which is a horizontal section taken through the column and through a portion of the wall between the floor and ceiling (not shown), we see the column 10, a plaster surfacing 11, 12 on the column, two sections of dry-wall type wall board 13 and 16 supported by internal bracing 14 defining the wall proper, and a partition terminator means 15 at the point of joinder between the column and the wall board 16. The partition terminatory will normally run the full length of the joint between the walls which it joins together. Thus, in the case of the column and partition shown in FIGURE 1, assuming the joint therebetween runs from floor to ceiling, the partition terminator runs substantially the entire length of the joint, e.g., from floor to ceiling or to within a few inches of each.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged portion of FIGURE 1 and therefore more clearly shows the wall elements and partition terminator means. As disclosed in FIGURE 2, the first wall includes the column as a first structural supporting means and a plaster finish 11 as a first finishing layer. The reference numeral 11 also identifies the generally planar first exposed surface of the plaster. The plaster also includes a marginal edge 20 adjacent the partition terminator means. The partition terminator means comprises a rectangular mid-portion 23 having longitudinal edges 24 and 25. Extending perpendicular to midportion 23 and in opposite directions with respect to one another are a first flange portion 22 and a second flange portion 21, united to the mid-portion 23 at longitudinal edges 25 and 24 respectively. The first flange portion 22 firmly afiixes said flange to the column 10, to which it may be anchored by any suitable fastening means such as nails, adhesives and so forth (not shown).

Reference to FIGURE 2 will show that the mid-portion 23 has a width substantially equal to the thickness of the marginal edge 20 of the plaster 11. The first flange member is turned back upon the plaster 11 from marginal edge 20 so that it overlaps the plaster with its outer surface fiush with the exposed surface of the plaster. Because the length of the mid-portion and flanges of the partition terminator means runs from the floor of the room to the ceiling, and the width of the flanges and mid-portion will only be a few inches or perhaps fractions thereof, it may be said that the mid-portion 23 and flanges 21 and 22 are each of substantially greater length than width, and in the ordinary case, the width will be quite small in comparison to the length. Also, because the material of which the partition terminator is to be fabricated must be thin in comparison to the thickness of the finishing layer, the flanges and mid-portion 21, 22 and 23 will ordinarily be of substantially lesser thickness than width. The partition terminator means may be formed of any material which is of substantial rigidity when fabricated in widths and thicknesses as above described. By substantial rigidity is meant sufiicient rigidity for the partition terminator to retain its intended shape during handling and use. Thus, for instance, the partition terminator may be stamped or bent from sheet metal or may be extruded of a rigid, resinous synthetic polymeric material. Typical, but by no means limiting, dimensions for the flanges and mid-portion are as follows:

First flange, at least about inch;

Mid-portion, about inch to about 1% inches; and

Second flange, about 4 inch to about 2 inches.

In the FIGURE 2 embodiment, the second wall or partition is defined by structural supporting means 14, a second finishing layer, wall board 16, supported on supporting means 14, and a second sheet of wall board 13. The reference numeral 16 also identifies the planar second exposed surface of the wall board and reference numeral 26 identifies the second marginal edge. The partition is generally perpendicular to the first wall, the face of the column 10, against which the partition abuts. The exposed surface of wall board 16 is in snugfitting, slideable, face-to-face engagement with the second face of mid-portion 23 of the partition terminator means, and the marginal edge 20 of the plaster 11 is in contact with the first face of said mid-portion 23. Also, the marginal edge 26 of wall board 16 abuts the second flange member 21.

The installation of the partition terminator means and the wall elements is a relatively simple operation. Before the plaster is put in place, the partition terminator means is fastened to the face of the column. Then the wall board supports 14 and the wall board 13, 16 are put in place, followed by laying up of the plaster. During the plastering operation, the plaster is worked back into the recess formed by the face of the column, and by mid-portion 23 and first flange 22 of the partition terminator. Then the surface of the plaster is struck off flush with the front face of first flange 22. If this is done skillfully, the presence of said flange will be virtually indistinguishable once the plaster has dried and the wall has been painted. The first flange of the partition terminator guides the plasterers finishing tool in making the surface of the plaster smooth along that portion of the wall which adjoins the corner. Once the plaster has dried, the partition terminator protects the plaster in the zone of engagement of the walls and at the same time helps in holding the marginal edge 20 of the plaster in place. The wall board 16 is installed in such a manner that its exposed surface is in snug, face-to-face engagement with the second face of the mid-portion of the partition terminator, but is not bonded thereto, providing for a slideable engagement between the partition terminator and wall board 16. If the building should settle, and the wall 16 should settle more or less than the column 10, the wall board 16 is able to slide up, down or across the face of mid-portion 23, thus accommodating the difference in settling without developing strains in either wall and removing one of the causes of the development of cracks.

The second embodiment to be described herein is an illustration of the joinder of a partition to a plastered concrete wall in accordance with the invention. It is disclosed in FIGURE 3, which is a vertical section through a concrete deck 30 of a building. The underside of the deck is finished with plaster 31, 36 to provide a ceiling for the room below. A hollow, upright partition comprising panelling 32, 33 and supports 34 engages the ceiling with the aid of a partition terminator 35. In this embodiment the partition terminator is, in effect, a pair of partition terminators of the type disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2, joined by a common second flange means. Such second flange means has a width substantially equal to the over-all thickness of the partition.

The partition terminator and the walls which it joins are shown in greater detail in FIGURE 4. As disclosed therein, the concrete deck 30, constituting a first structural supporting means is provided with a first finishing layer comprising plaster 31, 36 having marginal edges 45, 46.

The partition terminator has a second flange means 40, a pair of mid portions 41, 43, and a pair of first flange means 42, 44. The second flange means is secured or anchored by any suitable means (not shown) to the deck 30; the mid-portions 41, 43 are adjacent the marginal edges 45, 46 of the plaster; and the first flange means 42, 44 extend along the surfaces of the plaster 31, 36 and are flush therewith.

The second wall means of this embodiment comprises structural supporting means 34 and two second finishing layers in the form of panelling 32, 33, the latter having exposed planar wall surfaces which are in snugfitting, slideable engagement with mid-portions 41, 43 of the partition terminator means 35, but are not bonded thereto. It has been found desirable to provide a small clearance, e.g. up to about A; inch between the surfaces of the panelling 32, 33 and the inner or second faces of mid-portions 41, 43. The term snug-fitting should therefore be so construed as to permit such clearance. Panelling 32, 33 also includes marginal edges 47, 48, which are adjacent second flange means 40, and may abut against it. Under certain circumstances, it may be found quite desirable to provide a small clearance between marginal edges 47, 48 and second flange means 40.

The installation of the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 is quite simple. It is contemplated that the partition terminator 35 is to be made in a variety of sizes for different thicknesses of plaster and different partition widths. The partition terminator is put in place on the underside of the concrete deck or vertical wall surface before the plaster is applied. It may be anchored with nails driven through the terminator and into the concrete by explosive charges. If necessary, the terminator is wedged on one side or the other to provide a straight and level or plumb ground, e.g. make the first flange means 42, 44 straight and level or plumb, so that the plaster, when applied, may be finished in like fashion. The partition is then set up so that its exposed surfaces will clear the mid-portions 41, 43 of the terminator by about A; inch. The plaster may be applied before or after the partition is set up, preferably before.

The invention is applicable to any type of finishing layer, including, but not limited to plaster, dry wall, wood, metal and so forth. The first and second finishing layers may be of the same or different materials. However, it is apparent that the invention yields particularly advantageous results when at least the finishing layer of the first wall means is of a settable plastic finishing mix, e.g. plaster. The terms settable plastic are employed herein to refer to readily shapeable semi-fluid organic and inorganic mixtures capable of being applied and smoothed into place, and which, upon standing, set up as a hard, dense finishing layer.

The partition terminator of the present invention should be quite clearly distinguished from those U- shaped channels heretofore used which have no flanges to provide a straight and plumb or level ground against which to finish plastic and the like. It should also be clearly distinguished from those structures which includes a hidden flange behind the surface of the plaster. Such hidden flanges can and often do encourage the development of cracks in the plaster surface coinciding with the outer edge of the flange. During expansion, contraction, settling and the like, such hidden flanges appear to exert a wedging action within or under the .plaster, whereas the flanges of the partition terminator of the present invention tend to support the plaster.

What is claimed is:

1. In a building structure with a wall and joint structure having a first wall including a first structural supporting means and a first finishing layer hung on said first structural supporting means, said first finishing layer having a first marginal edge; a partition teminator means having a mid-portion adjacent said marginal edge, a first flange means joined to one edge of said mid-portion and extending along the surface of said first finishing layer away from said marginal edge, and a second flange means joined to another edge of said mid-portion generally parallel to the first flange means and extending away from said marginal edge in the opposite direction from said first flange means, said second flange means being securely anchored to said first wall; and a second wall, substantially perpendicular to the first, including a second structural supporting means and a second finishing layer hung on said second structural supporting means, said second finishing layer having a second marginal edge; said partition terminator intervening between said finishing layers for substantially the entire length of the adjacent portions thereof and said first and second walls being held in substantially fixed relationship in respect to one another in said building structure, the improvement characterized in that: with said second finishing layer hung in place on said second structural supporting means, said first flange means has an exposed portion which extends perpendicular to said second finishing layer along the surface of said first finishing layer, and said second finishing layer is in snug-fitting, slideable fact-to-face engagement with the midportion of said partitron terminator means.

2. A building structure according to claim 1 wherein said partition terminator means has only one mid-portion and only one first flange means.

3. A building structure according to claim 1 wherein said first finishing layer is of a settable plastic finishing mix finished flush with the first flange means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,222,836 12/ 1965 Collin et al 52-2 81 FOREIGN PATENTS 524,522 8/1940 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

I. L. RIDGILL, JR., Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 52262, 281 

1. IN A BUILDING STRUCTURE WITH A WALL AND JOINT STRUCTURE HAVING A FIRST WALL INCLDUING A FIRST STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING MEANS AND A FIRST FINISHING LAYER HUNG ON SAID FIRST STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID FIRST FINISHING LAYER HAVING A FIRST MARGINAL EDGE; A PARTITION TEMINATOR MEANS HAVING A MID-PORTION ADJACENT SAID MARGINAL EDGE, A FIST FLANGE MEANS JOINED TO ONE EDGE OF SAID MID-PORTION ABD EXTENDING ALOGN THE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST FINISHING LAYER AWAY FROM SAID MARGINAL EDGE, AND A SECOND FLANGE MEANS JOINED TO ANOTHER EDGE OF SAID MID-PORTION GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE FIRST FLANGE MEANS AND EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID MARGINAL EDGE IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM SAID FIRST FLANGE MEANS, SAID SECOND FLANGE MEANS BEING SECURELY ANCHORED TO SAID FIRST WALL; AND A SECOND WALL, SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE FIRST, INCLUDING A SECOND STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING MEANS AND A SECOND FINISHING LAYER HUNG ON SAID SECOND STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID SECOND FINISHING LAYER HAVING A SECOND MARGINAL EDGE; SAID PARTITION TERMINATOR INTERVENING BETWEEN SAID FINISHING LAYERS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE ADJACENT PORTIONS THEREOF AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND WALLS BEING HELD IN SUBSTANTIALLY FIXED RELATIONSHIP IN RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER IN SAID BUILDING STRUCTURE, THE IMPROVEMENT CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: WITH SAID SECOND FINISHING LAYER HUNG IN PLACE ON SAID SECOND STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID FIRST FLANGE MEANS HAS AN EXPOSED PORTION WHICH EXTENDS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SECOND FINISHING LAYER ALONG THE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST FINISHIGN LAYER, AND SAID SECOND FINISHING LAYER IS IN SNUG-FITTING, SLIDEABLE FACT-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MIDPORTION OF SAID PARTITION TERMINATOR MEANS. 